"And that makes 2 for I. Land. They're really on their game."
The uproar of shouts could be heard from afar the stadium. I. Land were now in the lead with 2+ goal difference, making them 4th on league table.
There was really hope for I. Land team or as they thought.
Ricario passed to Richard. Richard passed back to the goal line while the team pushed forward. Their goalie controlled the ball, taking steady steps. He carefully pushed the ball forward, making sure not to lose it to an approaching Michael.
Michael approached too close, and this forced the GK to pass to his LB. Michael chased after the ball, but the LB passed back to his GK. Reading well, Samba stole the pass about to shoot, but Cradle's GK used an iron gate move to block Samba's shot. The ball deflected to an open space. Using his physique, Cradle's LB reached the ball ahead of Michael, and passed to his LCB.
I.land was on an all-out attack. Shroder immediately stole the pass, passing to Michael, but it was deflected by the LB. Controlling the ball, he tried to get pass Shroder. He failed as Shroder stole the ball, and sent a quick through for Michael, but Cradle's RCB slid, stopping the pass. The LB rushed for the ball against Shroder, passing to a just recovered RCB.
Immediately, he released a through to his LB finally, averting Shroder. He passed to Ranbir. Lexar coming for a slide tackle. Ranbir stopped the ball, letting him slide away. Watching carefully, he swiped a loft pass for Ricario, whom was almost offside. Poker tried holding on Ricario, but using his physique and his back as a weapon, he obstructed Poker's chance of reaching the ball. Leiser came to support him, but Ricario had already passed to Ranbir, whose vision of goal was already set. He took the shot with no time to be wasted.
"Could come back be possible for the champions."
Match score: 1-2(Ranbir 45'+ 3')
"Man, our chances are leaving. Our 2+ goal difference is now a 1+ goal difference", Neto thought.
"But someone could have marked Ranbir? Right?"
"No sweat boyz", Samba maintained, "Just let's keep at our pace."
Samba passed to Michael, Michael took it to Jolar. Jolar passed back to Alexis. He sent it to his right, to Lexar. Lexar ran back, giving the ball to Dogo. He gave a quick pass to Leiser; Ricario appeared for another tackle, but Leiser immediately crossed the ball to Alexis. Upon an oncoming tackler, Alexis chested the ball, using an overhead kick skill to pass to Jolar.
"What a nice Ronaldo chop from the yellowz LW."
Jolar dispatched his tackler giving a trivela pass to Michael. The ball was going across the penalty box, and Michael reacted, heading the ball, but it was saved by Cradles' GK. Michael began marking the keeper, but later on, one of Cradle's CB came to obstruct Michael's view of the ball.
Neto was assessing Cradle's movements,"These guys are planning something."
Cradle's GK passed to their LB. He ran down, meeting Jolar, but didn't wait to chat, and passed the ball to his LCB. He cleared the ball to Richard. Richard passed to Ranbir, whom was being tailed by Xavez, and soon released the pass back to Richard.
Richard passed the ball to his RCB; before Alexis could tackle him. The RCB then cleared the ball to his RW. The ball was heading out, but he was able to control it with his side foot. He was unmarked.
A clear space was open this time, and he began pacing down. Thrist came to oppose him, but he stopped, crossed a foot over the ball and used his right leg to drive a cross to Ricario, whom headed the ball out.
"It was a nice opportunity there for Cradle City. Do you still think that I.land FC have a chance in this? I mean with more accuracy. Cradle's citizens would be drawn with Moz's Yellowz."
"And that is it for the first half. Good performance from both teams. We'll be back in the 2nd half. I.land FC, 2; Cradle City, 1"
IN THE LOCKER ROOM
"Dudes, can we like up our game? This match is more than a match, it's a chance to get back in the big leagues." "We can still do this. All we need is two more goals", Samba said. "2more gooaaalzz?" Shroder asked. "Yeah, 2 more goals?" Michael added, "It's not going to be easy, man." "Cradle's team is quite tough", Jolar said. "Scoring the next few goals won't be easy", Xavez said. "But we still gotta try", Samba maintained. "Surprising, there's something quite weird about our coach?" Jolar asked, putting on his ear pods: "Many normal coaches would….. I don't know, try to help us, but this one is just outside enjoying dried flakes."
Neto just watched, and listened from the background stage; like he wasn't even there. "I wanna play", he stood up, going to the pitch. He got to the pitch, Felix's words jumped out of his brain, and he maintained, "I gotta play"; wind ruffles around, in the cool winds of the late evening.
2ND HALF
Ricario gave the centre pass to his LW. Cradle's LW passed the ball down to his goal keeper, whom released a shot, way in for a quick attack session by Cradle City. The ball went for Cradle's LW. He headed the ball to Richard, whom gave a through for Ranbir. Leiser and Ral came for a tackle, but he passed back to Cradle's RCB. He crossed the ball to their RW, whom headed the ball, but it was deflected by Dogo. Ranbir was already 4 yards from the post, and he took a ground, left, direct shot, but it was still saved by Dogo. The ball was leaving for a corner kick.
Thrist tried to prevent a corner kick, running and immediately sending the ball in. It wasn't a perfect clearance by Thrist, and the ball came for Cradle's LB. He crossed the ball again, but Leiser headed it out, and Ricario headed it back into the post, but Dogo immediately made a goal-line clearance and it was I. land's counter attack. The ball was on Xavez; his jersey being dragged by an opponent.
Xavez passed the ball to Samba, Samba began sprinting, and gave a through for Jolar. Jolar paced to reach the ball. An oncoming slide was heading for the ball by Cradle's RCB, but Jolar controlled the ball from him, passing to Michael, whom passed to Shroder, unmarked, and unblocked.
"This could be the big chance for I.land over here."
Cradle's keeper came out of his post, and Shroder tried to drive a top corner to get the ball away from the opposing keeper, but he took the ball out.
"UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" In a very disappointing tone could be heard by the fans of the yellowz.
"Man, that could've been the 3rd one, Shroder," He growled at himself-Shroder.
It was a goal kick for Cradle City. The GK fired a long shot to Cradle's RW's direction. Leiser tried to oppose him, but it was blocked by Dogo as a free ball. Ricario rushed for the free ball, but Ral opposed him, using his body to obstruct him. It was tough struggle, but eventually, Ricario made touch of the ball, and took it out.
It was a goal kick for I. land. Dogo dropped the ball. Cradle's forwards had I. land's penalty box surrounded. Dogo passed the ball to Leiser. Ranbir was rushing at him so, he (Leiser) passed back to Dogo. With no idea of what to do, he passed the incoming ball to a marked Poker. Ricario reached the pass and shot at the post. This time Dogo couldn't stop this equalizer. Match score: 2-2 (Ricario 57')
At that instant, Thrist began complaining of a head issue, and Poker was complaining of a twisted ankle.
The match was paused for attention to these injured players.
"#....." Moz was interrupted. "Put me on, coach," Neto said, "Please." Moz told Lewee to get ready. "C' mon give me a chance, coach. I won't waste it", Kibb said. "Save it; you won't waste it. So why did you waste your other games." Kibb was startled. "Yeah, I guess so", Moz said, turning away from Kibb. "About what I bring to the team", Kibb caught Moz's attention, "I don't know but what I know is that you can't know what you bring till you get on the pitch, and that's why I'm begging you."
"Pls, put me on."
"I don't usually do this, but I 'm doing it in one condition. If putting you on doesn't make any difference to the match's data, then you're off to our reserves", Moz said.
Matching similarities between Moz's and Felix's statements, shook Neto up. "Do you accept?" Moz inquired. His hand began shaking, and his heart, beating faster than before, "Why are my shaking? Is this....?"
"F E A R ?"
"The only voice in his head. Should I accept this?" He thought, "I could leave I. land tonight, but what if I succeed?"
"Forget this", he thought, "If I don't win, I'll take life as it is."
"I accept."
"Well then, I'd like to see your impact", Moz said, smirking
The substitutions were made: Andol # 2 for Poker # 18, Lexar # 19 for Xavez # 25, and Kibb # 75 for Thrist # 41
"Kibb is getting subbed in," Shroder realized, startled, "We've lost for sure."
"I hope you won't mess up this time, Kibb," Samba hoped.
Cradle City fans cheered, seeing Neto getting on the pitch.
"Play well, man," Blake said, sipping a soda.
I.Land players began mumbling that as long as Neto's on the pitch, they'll lose for sure. Cradle City fans were more than happy to see Neto because thought their team would win for sure.
"I'll change my future, my fate and my life with these remaining minutes."
"After about 2 months, our precious #75 graces us with his presence in these remaining minutes. Can his arrival really turn things around for I.land or can it turn down I. land."